Dr. Ben Sikes, Associate Professor of Microbial Ecology at the University of Kansas, joins us to shed light on the fascinating relationships between fungi and fire. Learn of the interconnection between plants created by mycorrhizal networks (AKA the “wood wide web”), how fire regimes drive changes in fungal communities, the mechanisms of carrying out fungal research, and much more.

• Bond, W. J., & Keeley, J. E. (2005). Fire as a global ‘herbivore’: the ecology and evolution of flammable ecosystems. Trends in ecology & evolution, 20(7), 387-394.

• Hopkins, J. R., et al. (2021). Fungal community structure and seasonal trajectories respond similarly to fire across pyrophilic ecosystems. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 97(1), fiaa219.

• Hopkins, J. R., et al. (2020). Frequent fire slows microbial decomposition of newly deposited fine fuels in a pyrophilic ecosystem. Oecologia, 193, 631-643.

• Hansen, P. M., et al. (2019). Recurrent fires do not affect the abundance of soil fungi in a frequently burned pine savanna. Fungal ecology, 42, 100852.

• Fox, S., et al. (2022). Fire as a driver of fungal diversity—A synthesis of current knowledge. Mycologia, 114(2), 215-241.

• Dao, V. Q., et al. (2022). Substrate and low intensity fires influence bacterial communities in longleaf pine savanna. Scientific reports, 12(1), 20904.

Dr. Ben Sikes Contact/Website, Academic Profile

Dr. Carolina Baruzzi wildlandmgmt, Academic Profile

Dr. Marcus Lashley DrDisturbance, Academic Profile

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Enroll now in our free, online fire course. Available to all.

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Music by Dr. David Mason and Artlist.io

Produced and edited by Charlotte Nowak

Carolina and Marcus sit down with Ciera Rhodes of Quail Forever to discuss the importance of using fire when managing for gamebirds, programs and agencies available to assist landowners with management practices and funding, and best fire practices for maximizing quail on your property.

Resources:

• NRCS

• EQIP

• Quail Forever

Dr. Carolina Baruzzi (wildlandmgmt) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Have suggestions for future episodes? Send us your feedback! (here)

Check out our newest podcast, Wild Turkey Science!

Enroll now in our free, online fire course. Available to all.

This podcast is supported by listener donations - thank you for being a part of this effort.

For more information, follow UF DEER Lab on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

Music by Dr. David Mason and Artlist.io

Produced and edited by Charlotte Nowak

Dr. Anthony Taylor, Associate Professor of Forest Management at the University of New Brunswick, joins Carolina to discuss the Canadian wildfires, the implications of climate change on our ecological and human communities, and what tools can help mitigate these effects moving forward.

Resources:

• Wang, J., Taylor, A. R., & D’Orangeville, L. (2023). Warming-induced tree growth may help offset increasing disturbance across the Canadian boreal forest. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(2), e2212780120.

Dr. Anthony Taylor (website) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Carolina Baruzzi (wildlandmgmt) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Have suggestions for future episodes? Send us your feedback! (here)

Check out our newest podcast, Wild Turkey Science!

Enroll now in our free, online fire course. Available to all.

This podcast is supported by listener donations - thank you for being a part of this effort.

For more information, follow UF DEER Lab on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

Music by Dr. David Mason and Artlist.io

Produced and edited by Charlotte Nowak